MR SPEAKER (Mr Cornwell) took the chair at 10.30 am and read
the prayer.

ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST ASSEMBLY SITTING

MR SPEAKER: Members, I remind you all that today is the sixth
anniversary of the first sitting of this Legislative Assembly back in 1989.

Mr Kaine: And some of us are still surviving.

MR SPEAKER: Indeed, Mr Kaine.

Mr Moore: There is just a small handful of us who were there on that
day.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1995

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (10.31): Mr Speaker, I present the
Director of Public Prosecutions (Amendment) Bill 1995, together with its
explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MR HUMPHRIES: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Director of Public Prosecutions Act
1990 to provide legal protection for the Director of Public Prosecutions in
certain circumstances. From time to time, the Director of Public Prosecutions
has to make decisions that arouse public debate. For example, there may be a
public controversy about a decision to give undertakings not to prosecute, to
discontinue criminal prosecutions or to refuse to appeal against the leniency
of sentences imposed by the courts. It is in the public interest that the
director be able to publicly state the reasons for doing so. In stating
reasons for a decision, the director may have to refer to the evidence against
an accused person and, in particular, cast doubt on the credibility of
particular witnesses. This may leave the director open to defamation or other
proceedings which would be difficult or impossible to defend without revealing
sensitive information.